Algeria players leave the pitch after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Germany and Algeria at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Monday, June 30, 2014 (Photo: AP)
After the tough 2-2 draw with Tanzania in the first leg of the World Cup qualifying second round, Algeria striker Islam Slimani revealed that he was confident of coming back and scoring, though the game was not easy for his team.
Algeria striker Slimani saved his side a shocking away defeat as the Desert Warriors came from behind to draw with Tanzania 2-2 in the World Cup qualifiers.
Tanzania dominated their visitors Algeria and managed to take the upper hand through Elias Maguli in the 44th minute and Mbwana Samata in the 55th minute, before Algeria striker Islam Slimani scored twice, in the 71st and 75th minutes, to finish the game with a draw.
"The game wasn't easy but we were confident of our ability to score anytime, as we did," Slimani was quoted as saying by Algerian newspaper Elheddaf after the game.
"Hot weather and humidity affected players as you recognised during the game," he added. Algeria will host Tanzania Tuesday in the second leg of the qualifiers.
"We will play to win in the second leg, whatever today's result," Slimani said.
Algeria assistant coach Nabil Neghiz also confirmed that they studied the Tanzania team's methods and are confident of winning.
"We didn't expect to concede two goals, but we were confident of the comeback," Neghiz said.
"We studied Tanzania well. We recognised that they start the game at a high level, but they always fail to continue until the end of the game," he said.
"We will qualify from Algeria," the Algeria tactician concluded.
The winners of the double-legged second round qualifiers will directly qualify for the five four-team groups, whose winners make it to the World Cup in Russia.
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